ICF

Compensation

Full Description

ICF is seeking an Early Childcare and Education Business Specialist for the Quality Support Center to advance the mission of expanding access to high-quality, affordable pre-kindergarten experiences for Philadelphia’s children. This position plays a vital role in providing business, operational, and quality improvement support to early childhood education providers. The Business Specialist helps ensure the Quality Support Center’s dedication to equity, quality assurance, and sustainable program growth through direct technical assistance, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative partnership management. The role reports to the Intermediary organization and works in close collaboration with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families (OCF) to ensure alignment with program goals and quality support objectives. PreK is the universal pre-kindergarten initiative, dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to high-quality, affordable early learning experiences. The program’s mission is to promote positive outcomes for children, families, and communities by: Expanding access to quality pre-K education for all eligible children Elevating instructional standards and operational excellence among providers Advancing equity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness Strengthening community partnerships and family engagement Utilizing data to drive continuous improvement and accountability Key Responsibilities: Oversee individualized, strengths-based technical assistance and coaching for PreK providers, ensuring excellence in business operations, fiscal management, and compliance with program standards. Lead the implementation of PreK’s tiered support system, strategically assigning appropriate levels and types of business and quality support to providers based on assessed needs. Manage initiatives to help providers understand and adopt best practices in early childhood business operations, including budgeting, payroll, enrollment management, and regulatory compliance. Direct the development and delivery of professional development opportunities, supporting providers in enhancing their competencies across both business and educational domains. Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with PreK providers, the Intermediary, OCF, and community partners to strengthen the quality and sustainability of early childhood services. Coordinate and participate in regular meetings with OCF, the Intermediary, and other program partners to align strategies, share insights, and proactively address emerging needs. Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring all support strategies are culturally responsive and accessible to providers serving diverse communities. Leverage feedback and data to continuously refine support strategies, guaranteeing responsiveness to provider needs and alignment with PreK’s quality improvement objectives. Monitor progress toward established performance metrics and outcome goals, identifying and resolving challenges to ensure the successful achievement of deliverables. This role requires up to 30% local travel within the Greater Philadelphia Area. Basic Qualifications : Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field Minimum 5 years of experience in early childhood education, program administration, business management, or related technical assistance roles. 2+ years of experience with early childhood systems, Philadelphia’s ECE landscape, and the unique challenges facing community-based providers. 2+ years of experience with Philadelphia/PA ECE, including strong knowledge of Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS and early learning standards. Professional Skills: Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; experience with trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices. Ability to collaborate effectively with partner agencies and community organizations Proficiency in data systems, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications. Strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills; ability to build trust and rapport with diverse stakeholders. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Organizational skills, flexibility, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. Demonstrated organizational skills, flexibility, and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team in a dynamic environment. Working at ICF ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future. We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO policy. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation, please email Candidateaccommodation@icf.com and we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. Read more about workplace discrimination rights or our benefit offerings which are included in the Transparency in (Benefits) Coverage Act. Candidate AI Usage Policy At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process. However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodation that involves the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at candidateaccommodation@icf.com. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed. Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position. The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: $60,940.00 - $103,598.00 Pennsylvania Remote Office (PA99) Need help? We're here: ICFCareerCenter@icf.com About ICF ICF is a global consulting and technology services company with approximately 9,000 employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com.